Stirrup.



- J. H. .EARPERL STIRRUP. APPLICATION FILED DBO. 31, 1909.

Patented Mar.7,1911.

iinrr JAMES H. HARPER, OF

isrie.

BER-NICE, LUUISIANA.

STIRRUP.

To all whom it" may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. HARPER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bernice, in the parish of Union and State of Louisiana, haveinvented a new and useful Stirrup, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to stirrups and has for an object to provide astirrup having a saddle strap clamp adapted to form a housing around thestirrup-engaging bend of the saddle strap and to connect the stirrup tothe strap without twisting the strap.

The invention consists of certain novel details of construction andcombination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,Figure 1is a perspective View of my improved stirrup. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view through the stirrup. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionalview taken on the line A-B of Fig. 2.

One of the disadvantages found in stirrups heretofore constructed isthat the stirrup engaging bend of the saddle strap is unprotected sothat in portions of the country where a rider encounters a great deal ofbrush, the stirrup must be provided with a fender to protect the stirrupand saddle strap bend from injury. To obviate this diflicult-y I haveprovided a clamp which will engage the saddle strap bend and inclose theside, bottom and end faces of the same and to which a metal or otherdurable foot loop is pivotally connected and comfortably supports thefoot of the rider.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of referencedesignate simi lar parts in the views shown, at designates the loop orbend of a saddle strap or stirrup leather 5 of the usual or anypreferred construction. The subject matter of this invention includes ametallic clamp or casing 6 preferably rectangular and with its sides andends inclosing the stirrup leather and its bottom 16 closed below thebend 5. A pivot here shown as a pin 7, extends through the casing and issecured at its ends therein, and intermediate its ends it passes throughthe bend of the strap as shown. Depending Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed December 31, 1909.

vFig. 3

from the sides of the casing is a pair of ap- Patented Mar. Y, 1911,

Serial No. 535,829.

proximately parallel ears 8 and 9 which are provided centrally withsuitable openings to receive the pivot pins 10 of the stirrup loop 11. p

The stirrup loop 11 is preferably formed from a single broad band ofmetal, wood or like material bent into the shape shown in and having itsterminals drawn together into parallelism and pivoted by means of thepivot pins 10 to the ears 8 and 9, as shown. The pivotal movement of theloop permits of a comfortable position of the riders foot in the stirrupand further permits of the foot being readily disengaged from thestirrup in cases of accident.

It will be noted that the loop lies in a plane at right an les to theplane of the ears 8 and 5) so that the saddle strap is not twisted whenthe stirrup is in its normal position. The saddle strap is thusmaintained flat against the sweat leather of the saddle and easilyslides back and forth thereover to conform to the movements of thehorse. It will be further noted that the loop and clamp being preferablyformed of metal, the stirrup is practically indestructible underordinary conditions of service. i Vith a stirrup of this kind the usualfender so commonly used to protect the stirrup in brush countries isunnecessary.

The lateral sides of the casing 6 loosely engage the lateral sides ofthe saddle strap bend, and prevent it from spreading to any considerableextent so that it will not be cracked by continuous bulging andnarrowing under severe conditions of service.

in the sides of the casing 6 just above its closed bottom 16 I leaveopenings 15 parallel with the pivot 7. Vl itho'ut the use of the fendermentioned above (or even with it) dirt and mud will eventuallyaccumulate within this casing, and these openings are obviously for thepurpose of allowing it to escape. As the casing is open at the top, theentrance of rain will serve to wash out the accumulated dirt, whosepresence might wear the strap.

Nhat is claimed is:

A stirrup comprising a saddle strap having a bend in its lower end, afoot loop having parallel upper teri'ninals, a clamp comprising arectangular metal casing surrounding the bend of the strap and extendingacross its bottom with the lower portion of In testimony that I claimthe foregoing its sides left open and parallel ears deas my own I havehereto afiixed my signa pending from said sides, pivots between saidture in the presence of two witnesses.

ears and the terminals of the foot loop and JAMES H. HARPER. a pivotextending through the casing paral Witnesses:

lel with said openings therein and through F. E. NEWTON,

the bend of the strap. K Y. S. FULLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

